Signs and Symptoms of Marijuana Use

Worldwide, cannabis–also known as weed and marijuana–throws an enormous net that traps more than a hundred million people every year. In the US, it’s about 4.5 million people, and more than 860,000 of these Americans are students in middle school or high school. It is essential to be able to tell when you might lose a family member to addiction to weed.

Weed either can be a long-term habit, or it can lead to the abuse of stronger drugs, depending on the societal pattern in the location it’s being abused. One thing is certain: Despite all the media and articles and proponents for legalization, weed is addictive and creates an impaired condition that can be dangerous. Since weed is abused by so many young people, millions of parents struggle to clearly identify drug problems or addiction in their children. It’s important to be able to detect signs of weed use when they are present.

Marijuana Health Risks:

Identifying Marijuana or Weed Consumption

Marijuana or weed can be consumed as a shredded, dry leafy product or as marijuana oil and resin. These last two are sold under the names “hash” or “hashish.” Hash may be found in flat cakes. Hash oil will be amber or brown and may be sold in small glass bottles. When you’re looking for signs of weed use, you would be looking for small bags of brownish-green leaves that look like herbs, small chunks of a powdery brown substance or very small bottles of brown liquid.

Signs of Marijuana Use

Physical Change:

Bloodshot eyes

Fast heart rate

Sleepy, lethargic

Lack of coordination

Increase cravings for snacks

Change in Actions:

Confusion and lack of focus

Unusually talkative

Dropping studies or usual activities

Misjudging time

Secretiveness

Paraphernalia

Pipes

Shredded leafy debris

Cigarette rolling papers

Very small bottles of oil

Small metal clips

Eyedroppers

Other signs of weed use are paraphernalia left in a person’s room or vehicle. Small pipes, larger complicated water pipes referred to as “bongs,” and cigarette rolling papers or small ends of smoked hand-rolled cigarettes constitute signs of weed use. In states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana use (or nearby states), there may be “edibles” in the form of:

Cookies,

Brownies,

Drinks,

Candy bars,

Hard candies

If the item is still in the original packaging, it must identify the dosage of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary intoxicating ingredient) expected to exist in that edible item.

Immediate Signs of Weed Use

The most immediate signs of smoking weed are dilation of the blood vessels in the eyes (making them bloodshot), increased heart rate, increased appetite and memory impairment, along with difficulty paying attention or solving problems. But the real reason people abuse the drug is for the euphoria that may last three to six hours.

When monitoring for symptoms of weed use, there may be reactions of anxiety, fear or panic, especially if they are new to the drug or taking it in an unsettling location. Hallucinations, paranoia and delusional behavior can be symptoms of weed use that is very potent, or consumption of a large amount.

More Risks & Effects of Cannabis Abuse

Helping Someone Overcome Addiction to Weed

Feeling that one’s life is just passing one by is a typical symptom of weed use. One person who spent a decade smoking dope said that it was like ten years of his life was just missing. At Narconon recovery centers, the brightness and joy of really living can be recovered after symptoms of weed use have demonstrated abuse or addiction to the drug.

For students in particular, being addicted to weed can be destructive. Weed impairs one’s ability to think, learn and solve problems. To accomplish a good education, one must be bright and perceptive. With a thorough sauna-based detoxification action that restores the brightness and quickness of thinking, plus boosted communication skills and life skills, a person can again create a productive, enjoyable life.